"Anatomy of Yoga" 1: Teacher Training Workshop Series

Learn how anatomy informs yoga teaching, with focus on body positions, left-right laterality, three planes of movement, class sequencing, and bones and joints.

Explore how anatomy informs yoga teaching by linking hip and joint structure, skeletal variation, and nervous system function to safe asana and ongoing continuing education.

Explore how the skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, lymphatic, and immune systems interconnect in yoga, and how structure dictates function alongside chronic stress impacting bone health and balance.

Explore anatomy with a complete virtual dissection app that layers the skeletal system, muscles, arterial system, digestive, endocrine, and integumentary systems, and offers female anatomy views as a cadaver alternative.

Anatomical position sets the movement baseline; explore basic body positions (standing, supine, prone, quadruped, reclined), gravity as resistance, and laterality (unilateral, bilateral, ipsilateral, contralateral) shaping symmetry-aware yoga sequencing.

Learn essential anatomy terms used in yoga, including interior and posterior, proximal and distal, superficial and deep, dorsal and plantar surfaces, and medial versus lateral, with movement examples.

Explore the three imaginary planes of movement—sagittal, coronal, and transverse—and how yoga practice and sun salutations use these planes to create balanced, multi-planar movement.

Explore the language of movement through anatomy terms for planes, joints, and key yoga motions from neck to hips, including flexion, extension, rotation, and axial elongation.

Explore how to analyze Warrior two through specific joint actions and preparatory poses, using anatomical language to connect knee flexion, hip abduction, external rotation, and cervical rotation.

Explore the skeletal system basics and how bone shape dictates function, influencing movement, joints, weight bearing in multiple planes, and yoga biomechanics.

Explore how joints are classified as fibrous, cartilaginous, and synovial, and how stability versus mobility relates to the six shapes—pivot, hinge, saddle, ball and socket, conduit, and plane.

Explore the axial skeleton with a 3d anatomy view, covering the skull, spine, thoracic cage, sternum, sacrum, coccyx, hyoid bone, cervical and thoracic vertebrae, discs, and rib cartilage.

Explore the axial skeleton from the skull to the rib cage, learn vertebrae counts and landmarks for postural assessment, and note how bone variation influences yoga movement.

Identify axial skeleton surface landmarks from skull to sacrum, including occipital protuberance, mastoid process, frontal bone, TMJ, sternum, xiphoid, ribs, and landmarks C7, T7, T12, L4-L5, sacrum, coccyx.

Explore the upper extremity anatomy using the complete anatomy app’s 3d lab, isolating clavicle, scapula, humerus, radius, carpal and metacarpal bones, and phalanges, with lateral and posterior views.

Explore the upper extremity anatomy from the scapula and shoulder girdle to the humerus, radius, and ulna, including the elbow joints and median nerve, with tips for yoga-related arm movement.

Explore the upper extremity anatomy from the sternoclavicular joint to the scapula, humerus, elbow, radius, ulna, carpal bones, metacarpals, and phalanges, highlighting acromion, coracoid, glenoid fossa, and epicondyles.

Explore bones of the left lower extremity, including the pelvis, sacrum, ilium, hip joint, neck of the femur, patella, knee, toes, calcaneus, and foot through interior, lateral, and posterior views.

Explore the lower extremity skeleton, from the pelvis and its sitting bones to the hip socket and femur, and the arches that support weight.

Explore the surface anatomy of the lower extremity, from the iliac crest and ASIS to the greater trochanter, femur neck, patella, tibia, fibula, and malleoli.

Explore anatomy of yoga for teacher training, including scope of practice, anatomical position, planes of movement, and key terms like flexion and abduction.

Explore the scope of practice in yoga training levels from foundational to therapist, detailing body, soft tissue, and muscle function, and how to teach safely while referring to medical professionals.

Explore the anatomy of soft tissue, including cartilage types, connective tissue, collagen, fascia, ligaments, tendons, and proprioception, and examine how structure shapes function and nervous system communication.

Discover how skeletal muscles power movement, posture, and heat, and how fascia layers, sliding filament theory, and neuromuscular connections inform yoga cueing and alignment.

Apply muscle knowledge in yoga to optimize hamstring stretch and strength via anterior pelvic tilt, origin–insertion awareness, and balancing tonic and phasic muscles through progressive loading.

Explore the five forms of stretching—static, dynamic, active, passive, and ballistic—using a yoga strap to demonstrate end-range movements and isometric and resistance stretching as advanced topics.

Identify the three muscle contraction types: concentric, eccentric, and isometric, and connect them to yoga practice through a gas, brakes, and idling analogy while holding poses.

Explore the language of movement, defining strength, stability, flexibility, and mobility; learn how active mobility improves joint stability and safe force transfer in yoga practice.

Explore active, passive, and active-assisted range of motion concepts in yoga, and learn how neuromuscular engagement shapes strength, flexibility, and injury prevention through balanced movement.

Explore active, passive, and active-assisted range of motion in yoga, and how gravity and the nervous system shape mobility, with place and hold techniques.

Explore how muscles work as a team in yoga, from agonists and antagonists to synergists and stabilizers, and how open vs closed chain and kinetic chains shape movement.

Explore how tension and biotensegrity shape healthy movement in yoga, balancing fascia, ligaments, and muscles through varied, full-spectrum movement to distribute load and build resilient stability.

Explore how center of gravity and base of support shape balance in yoga, from forward folds to tree pose, with practical cues to widen the base and stay grounded.

Explore anatomy of yoga upper limb structures, identifying clavicle, scapula, humerus, ulna, radius, and hand bones; connect fascia, origin and insertion, and naming to movement.

Learn the surface anatomy of the upper limb by identifying key bony landmarks and muscle attachments, including the clavicle, acromion, coracoid, epicondyles, and scapular spine.

discover the upper extremity joints—sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, glenohumeral, and scapulothoracic—along with scapular mobility, stability, and warm-up sequencing essential for safe yoga shoulder work.

Explore the upper extremity muscles, including deltoids, pectoralis major and minor, serratus anterior, rotator cuff, latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, and trapezius, with wrist-safe alignment and strengthening strategies.

Explore the integrated anatomy of the upper and lower extremities, including deltoid subdivisions, lats, biceps, triceps, and limb bones with attachment sites like the pelvis, tibial plateau, and sitting bones.

Explore the anatomy of the lower extremity joints—from the sacroiliac and pubic symphysis to the hip, knee, and ankle—and how yoga twists, alignment debates, and movement shape stability.

Identify pelvic and leg landmarks, including the iliac crest, anterior superior iliac spine, greater trochanter, patella, tibia, head of the fibula, and medial and lateral malleoli, to map muscle attachments.

Explore how co-contraction and the muscle pump effect stabilize the trunk and move fluids through the lymphatic system and blood, while proximal stability enables distal mobility for safe yoga alignment.

Explore the lower extremity anatomy, including hip flexors (psoas major and iliacus), sartorius, gluteus maximus/medius/minimus, deep hip rotators, and the quadriceps and hamstrings, with yoga applications.

Learn the lower leg and foot anatomy, including the IT band, gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis anterior, and peroneus longus and brevis, with calf stretches for balance and arches support in yoga.

Recognize that every student is different and avoid blanket one-size-fits-all cues. Use anatomy to adapt yoga safely, emphasizing individual history and the value of one-on-one work before group classes.

Visual review guides you to identify gluteus medius, maximus, adductor group, rectus femoris, sartorius, the three TVs, IT band, hamstrings, gastrocnemius, and soleus; explains knee and hip positions for stretching.

Explore the joints of the axial skeleton—from the TMJ to atlas and axis, intervertebral discs, and costal joints—and how yoga cues promote balance, rotation, and spine health.

Identify landmarks such as the mastoid process, sternal notch, xiphoid process, and external occipital protuberance (gop) on the axial skeleton to assess neck movement and posture.

Explore the trunk and core as a box linking rib cage and pelvis to define stability, controlled movement, and the role of tension across the girdles against gravity.

Strengthen the neck and back muscles, from deep cervical flexors and neck extensors to trapezius and rhomboids, using yoga poses, gravity, and targeted stretches to counter forward head posture.

Wrap up the anatomy of yoga by outlining foundation knowledge and previewing part two on the nervous system, respiration, digestion, hormones, chakras, and injury prevention for postures and breath work.